System and method for power detection in a power amplifier using an adjustable load

• US 8,452,243 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Prikhodko, Dima, Abdallah, Hichem, Nabokin, Sergey, Tkachenko, Gene A.
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, NGUYEN THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/541,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20090318093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 455/107, 455/126, 455/127.1, 455/127.2
• US Class Current: 455/107
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2837 Characterising or performance testing, e.g. of frequency response transient response G01R27/28
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0205 in transistor amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0211 with control of the supply voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/56 Modifications of input or output impedances, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/207 A hybrid coupler being used as power measuring circuit at the output of an amplifier circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages

Abstract

A power amplifier system includes a first power detector configured to detect a forward power output of a power amplifier, the first power detector configured to provide a first power detector output and an adjustable load coupled to the output of the power amplifier and configured to receive the first power detector output, the adjustable load configured to provide an adjustable impedance at the output of the power amplifier in response to one of the output of the power amplifier and the first power detector output.

Claims

1. A power amplifier system comprising:

a first power detector configured to detect a forward power output of a power amplifier, the first power detector further configured to provide a first power detector output;

an adjustable load coupled to the output of the power amplifier and configured to receive the first power detector output, the adjustable load further configured to provide an adjustable impedance at the output of the power amplifier in response to one of the output of the power amplifier and the first power detector output; and

a second power detector configured to receive a collector parameter signal from the power amplifier and detect a collector parameter therefrom, the second power detector further configured to provide a second power detector output, the second power detector including the adjustable load.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first power detector output is a voltage signal and the adjustable load is a voltage controlled impedance.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first power detector and the adjustable load control the output linearity of the power amplifier.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the collector parameter signal is a collector voltage signal.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the collector parameter signal is a collector current signal.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first power detector output and the second power detector output are combined to form a combined power detector output.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein a ratio of the first power detector output and the second power detector output is based on a resistance value, the first and second power detectors further configured to control the output linearity of the power amplifier and the collector voltage of the power amplifier.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the first and second power detectors control the output linearity of the power amplifier and the collector voltage of the power amplifier.

9. A portable transceiver comprising:

a transmitter operatively coupled to a power amplifier and to a receiver;

a first power detector configured to detect a forward power output of the power amplifier, the first power detector further configured to provide a first power detector output;

an adjustable load coupled to the output of the power amplifier and configured to receive the first power detector output, the adjustable load further configured to provide an adjustable impedance at the output of the power amplifier in response to one of the output of the power amplifier and the first power detector output; and

a second power detector configured to receive a collector parameter signal from the power amplifier and detect a collector parameter therefrom, the second power detector further configured to provide a second power detector output, the second power detector including the adjustable load.

10. The portable transceiver of claim 9 wherein the first power detector output is a voltage signal and the adjustable load is a voltage controlled impedance.

11. The portable transceiver of claim 9 wherein the first power detector and the adjustable load control the output linearity of the power amplifier.

12. The portable transceiver of claim 9 wherein the collector parameter signal is a collector voltage signal.

13. The portable transceiver of claim 9 wherein the first power detector output and the second power detector output are combined to form a combined power detector output.

14. The portable transceiver of claim 13 wherein a ratio of the first power detector output and the second power detector output is based on a resistance value.

15. The portable transceiver of claim 13 wherein the first and second power detectors control the output linearity of the power amplifier and the collector voltage of the power amplifier.